Henan Monkey Performers Arrested in Heilongjiang: Did They Actually Commit A Crime?

Henan Monkey Performers Arrested in Heilongjiang: Did They Actually Commit A Crime?
Oct 02, 2014 By eChinacities.com

This article, translated from ifeng.com sheds light on a recent controversy in Northeastern China after four street performers who worked with monkeys were arrested. The article details the events following the arrest and is an excellent example of the confusing nature of the Chinese justice system. There also appears to be no concern shown over the welfare of the animals beyond the loss of profit for the performers, which would perhaps attract more focus from the Western media.

The arrest and sentencing of four monkey artists in Heilongjiang recently became a topic of national attention. There are many questions surrounding the arrest of the native Henan performers. Did the performers actually commit a crime? Were the police conducting a normal investigation or were they retaliating against the performers after a dispute? The police and the monkey performers have been interviewed in Heilongjiang after the incident occurred, telling both sides of the story. 

Henan Monkey Performers Arrested in Heilongjiang: Did They Actually Commit A Crime?
Photo: Tom Page

The monkey performers in question had a domesticated animal breeding permit but no transport permit. Is transporting a monkey to different parts of China considered to be “illegal transportation of rare wildlife?” The four monkey artists were originally from Henan. When they were sentenced, this issue was brought to national attention. The topic has now become a controversial one.

Yesterday, a reporter asked investigators in Heilongjiang province whether there would be administrative penalties or criminal penalties involved because of the retaliatory nature of the actions of the law enforcement involved. At this time, the four monkey performers’ sentences had already been issued and the story of the arrest of the so-called “Xinye Monkey Show,” had already become national news. Many were concerned over the treatment of the monkey performers.

Four Henan Monkey Artists Sentenced: Did They Actually Commit a Crime?

Yesterday afternoon, the monkey artists’ lawyer Song Yang told reporters that this year, on July 9, Bao Fengshan and three other monkey artists were performing on the streets of the city of Mudanjiang. The four monkey artists were taken away by the city’s public security bureau police and arrested. Six monkeys were also taken by the police. The reason behind the arrest of the monkey artists was “the illegal transportation of rare and endangered wildlife.” The police also seized 6,200 RMB from the detained monkey artists. 

Song Yang stated that on August 9, the four monkey artists had been already detained for 30 days. At this time, the Heilongjiang police turned to the Dongjing’s Lin district’s prosecutor’s office to authorize the arrest. On August 13, the prosecution responded that the crime itself was not serious enough for such action and that the monkey performers should be released. The four arrestees were immediately released on active police bail.

However, when the case was reviewed by the Dongjing’s Lin district’s court in Heilongjiang on September 4, the decision to arrest the four monkey artists was upheld and they were taken into custody. On the same day, the four monkey artists were taken to the Lin district court for prosecution. On September 23, they were found guilty of the crime of illegal transportation of rare wildlife. However, the court decided that the performers were exempt from punishment.

The local community had a strong reaction to the case. Many, including many well-known Chinese legal experts, argued that the monkey artists did not need a transfer permit if they possessed a domestic breeding permit. The actions of four monkey artists may at the most, have constituted administrative violation and they should have merely been fined or ticketed. The punishment that they were given did not fit the crime.

Why Was There No Initial Investigation After the Conflict?

Bao Fengshan said that before the incident, when the monkey artists performed, the local police had come and asked them to leave. However, the monkey performers needed to make a living, so they did not leave. When the police came back a second time and asked them to leave the monkey performers had a dispute with the police. According to Bao Fengshan’s statement, the police forcibly removed both the performers and the monkeys, “so they do not toe the line again. They needed to learn a lesson.”

When Tao Lei, Mudanjiang public security bureau chief, was questioned yesterday about the nature of this retaliatory, selective law enforcement, he denied the claims. He said that the actions of the police were based on complaints from the masses and that it was a normal investigation.

Why Did the Police Take the Initiative to Post Bail for the Performers?

After the prosecution’s decision not to arrest the four monkey artists was issued, the Mudanjiang public security bureau, in the absence of family members to assist the monkey performers, took the initiative to begin bail formalities for the four arrestees. The police said that the 6,000 RMB in cash that had been seized earlier from the monkey performers could be used for bail payment.

Song Yang said that taking into account the economic constraints, at the time the monkey performers had applied to the police for vouch for their employment but had been refused.

Tao Lei explained that, “it is not just only family members that can apply for bail. Police are able to handle it according to the circumstances of different cases.” This includes collecting guarantee bail so that arrestees do not leave town. The police have the right to implement this as well.

The Monkeys Died After They Were Taken Away, Should the Monkey Performers Be Compensated?

Tao Lei said because the police did not have expertise on the matter, the authorities sent the six monkeys to the zoo. Bao Fengshan said that after the court’s verdict was released, the monkey performers went to the zoo to get their monkeys back but found them dead. The zoo authorities and the police both said that the monkeys died from natural causes.

“The six monkeys that were used in the Mudanjiang performances were in good health and spirits. They should not have died!” said Bao Fengshan. Bao added that the four monkey artists have begged the zoo and the police for compensation for their loss, however, no one has been willing to shoulder the responsibility.

Bao Fengshan said that because the monkeys were special performing monkeys training them had been a lot of trouble. He said that each monkey is worth at least 10,000 RMB and the monkey artists treated them well, as if they were part of the family.

Tao Lei said that as for the goods involved in the case, the monkeys had originally been confiscated by the police and then had already been handed over into the custody of “humane law enforcement.”

Source: http://news.ifeng.com/a/20140929/42108726_0.shtml

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Keywords: animal performers China Monkey performers Heilongjiang

6 Comments

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Burak43

this is a classic case of having so many rules and regulations that every citizen is a criminal by default. Then the police or authorities can always find a stick to beat you with if they need to, or want to, or just feel a little bored that day.

Oct 03, 2014 11:28 Report Abuse

missmcalmont

this is China for YOU

Oct 02, 2014 16:21 Report Abuse

carlstar

meanwhile in Hong Kong. nothing on that?

Oct 02, 2014 15:07 Report Abuse

dongbeiren

So it seems that either the monkeys were intentionally killed by the police as an FU to the performers for defying them and not giving a hongbao or the zookeepers were so incompetent that the monkeys died under their care. I'd guess the first because zoos are usually experts at keeping their animals just healthy enough to stay alive.

Oct 02, 2014 12:52 Report Abuse

coineineagh

this crapturd of a country never ceases to shock me. it sounds like a bunch of coppers got their jobs via hongbao bribes, slept through every single police academy class, and walk the streets.waving their guns and authoritah around like it's some kind of game. but if your idol is a mass murderer of humans, i guess police dont see whats the problem when a couple monkeys die for their egos.

Oct 02, 2014 10:32 Report Abuse

bill8899

All six monkeys died? At the zoo?

Oct 02, 2014 01:46 Report Abuse